The total number of government employees surged by 2,687 persons in January 2024, marking a notable rise of 5.2% compared to the same month in 2023, bringing the total to 54,706 persons, data released by the Cyprus Statistical Service on Friday show.

This uptick in employment is primarily attributed to a substantial increase in staff within the Educational Service, which experienced a remarkable 13.5% growth.

The surge in Educational Service staff numbers stems from the abolition of the purchase of services regime within the supporting programs of the Ministry of Education, Sport, and Youth, effective from the school year 2023-2024. This policy change has led to a significant boost in personnel within the education sector.

Across other personnel categories such as Civil Service, Security Forces, and Hourly Paid Workers, increases of 0.8%, 2.8%, and 1.8% respectively were observed compared to January 2023.

In comparison to December 2023, the most notable change in employment figures was witnessed in Security Service staff, which saw a 0.7% increase. However, levels of employment remained relatively stable in all other personnel categories when compared to December 2023.